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New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

150 They draw nigh that follow after mischief:
they are far from thy law. 151 Thou art near, O Lord; and all thy commandments
are truth.

Here is, I. The apprehension David was in
of danger from his enemies. 1. They were very malicious, and
industrious in prosecuting their malicious designs: They follow
after mischief, any mischief they could do to David or his
friends; they would let slip no opportunity nor let fall any
pursuit that might be to his hurt. 2. They were very impious, and
had no fear of God before their eyes: They are far from thy
law, setting themselves as far as they can out of the reach of
its convictions and commands. The persecutors of God's people are
such as make light of God himself; we may therefore be sure that
God will take his people's part against them. 3. They followed him
closely and he was just ready to fall into their hands: They
draw nigh, nigher than they were; so that they got ground of
him. They were at his heels, just upon his back. God sometimes
suffers persecutors to prevail very far against his people, so
that, as David said (1 Sam. xx.
3), There is but a step between them and death.
Perhaps this comes in here as a reason why David was so earnest in
prayer, v. 149.
God brings us into imminent perils, as he did Jacob, that, like
him, we may wrestle for a blessing.

II. The assurance David had of protection
with God: "They draw nigh to destroy me, but thou art
near, O Lord! to save me, not only mightier than they and
therefore able to help me against them, but nearer than they and
therefore ready to help." It is the happiness of the saints that,
when trouble is near, God is near, and no trouble can separate
between them and him. He is never far to seek, but he is within our
call, and means are within his call, Deut. iv. 7. All thy commandments are
truth. The enemies thought to defeat the promises God had made
to David, but he was sure it was out of their power; they were
inviolably true, and would be infallibly performed.